Vinyl pressings
by John Lennon · 1970
Instant Karma! was first pressed on vinyl in 1970. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
65 pressings came out in 1970, the album's first year, in 34 countries. Compare the label and catalog number on your copy, then the codes etched or stamped in the runout groove (the dead wax around the label): they are the surest sign of an early pressing.
APPLES 1003 A-1 GA KT 1Runout A: machine stamped
APPLES 1003 B-1U RT KT 2Runout B: machine stamped
APPLES.1003ALabel A-side
APPLES.1003BLabel B-side
APPLES 1003 A-1 AP KT 4Runout side A
APPLES 1003 B-1U AA KT 2Runout side B
APPLES.1003ALabel A
APPLES.1003BLabel B
APPLES 1003 A-1 AH 4Runout side A, variant 1
APPLES 1003 B-1U OR 3Runout side B, variant 1
APPLES 1003 A-1 MM 1Runout side A, variant 2
APPLES 1003 B-1U HT 5Runout side B, variant 2
APPLES 1003 A-1 HH KT 4Stamped A
APPLES 1003 B-1U LH KT 3Stamped B
APPLES.1003ALabel A
APPLES.1003BLabel B
APPLES 1003 A-1 RR KT 1Runout A: Machine stamped
APPLES 1003 B-1U LD KT 3Runout B: Machine stamped
APPLES 1003 A-1 KTRunout A: Machine stamped
APPLES 1003 B-1U KTRunout B: Machine stamped
APPLES.1003ALabel A-side
APPLES.1003BLabel B-side
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Argentina | Apple Records DTOA 8557First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1970 | Argentina | Apple Records DTOA 8557First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1970 | Australia | Apple Records APPLE-9084First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | Australia | Apple Records APPLE-9084First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | Australia | Apple Records APPLE-9084First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1970 | Australia | Apple Records APPLE-9084First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | Brazil | Apple Records 7BT-32First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| 1970 | Canada | Apple Records 1818First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1970 | Chile | Apple Records APPLE-14First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | Denmark | Apple Records APPLES 1003First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | Finland | Apple Records APPLES 1003First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | Finland | Apple Records APPLES 1003First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1970 | Greece | Apple Records APPLES 1003First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | Greece | Apple Records APPLES 1003First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | India | Apple Records APPLE 1003First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Ireland | Apple Records APPLES 10037", Single, Reissue | 7", Single, Reissue |
| 1980 | Italy | Apple Records APPLES 1003 / Apple Records 3 C006-91149 M7", Single, Repress | 7", Single, Repress |
| 1981 | Australia | Apple Records APPLE-90847", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1981 | Japan | Odeon EAS-171227", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1983 | France | Apple Records 2C 008-91149 / Apple Records C 008-91.1497", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Worldwide | Apple Records APPLES 1003 / Apple Records 06025087787117", 45 RPM, Record Store Day, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Record Store Day, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Jamaica | Parlophone 18187", Single | 7", Single |
| ? | Lebanon | Apple Records 10037", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | Netherlands | Apple Records APPLES 1003 / Apple Records 1 C 006-911497", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Apple Records APPLES 10037", 45 RPM, Single, Repress | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Repress |
78 vinyl pressings of Instant Karma! are listed here, from 37 countries, released between 1970 and 2020.
The earliest pressings are from 1970, in UK, US, France, Germany and more. One of them is Apple Records APPLES 1003, released February 6, 1970.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use APPLES 1003, 1818, 2 C 006-91149 M, 1 C006-91 149) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, APPLES 1003 A-1 GA KT 1 and APPLES 1003 B-1U RT KT 2. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
It depends on which pressing you have and on the condition of the record and its sleeve. Early pressings from the album's home country in near mint condition are usually worth the most; common later reissues are worth far less. Scan your copy with VinylLens to see its value for every grade.
